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TJ to join Chad in the "no show" category

Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson already has stated he does not plan to attend the Bengals' voluntary offseason conditioning program that starts Monday.

But he is not going to be alone.

Cincinnatiís other Pro Bowl wide receiver, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, also is expected to skip the start of the voluntary conditioning program for some of the same reasons Johnson is not attending.

It sets up one of the stickiest situations in the NFL, an issue that threatens to hang over the team until and through training camp.

Cincinnati has two Pro Bowl wide receivers, each of whom believes he is underpaid, each of whom wants a new deal, each of whom is expected to be absent from Paul Brown Stadium for the start of Mondayís offseason drills.

Houshmandzadeh is in the final year of four-year contract that is scheduled to pay him a base salary of $2.525 million. He failed to show up to the Bengals' offseason conditioning program last season and, without a new deal before this yearís offseason conditioning program, Houshmandzadeh is not about to attend now. It is the reason he is not expected Monday or anytime shortly thereafter.

Cincinnati already has wrestled with the best way to handle the Johnson situation; it has made it known to any team that calls the team that the Bengals will not, under any circumstance, trade Johnson. They refuse to 86 "85." So now the Bengals are assured of having at least one unhappy wide receiver.

The interesting part is, will they have two? Unlike Johnson, Houshmandzadeh never has had his deal restructured in Cincinnati. Unlike Johnson, who has three years left on his contract, Houshmandzadeh has only one.

If Cincinnati spends on any Pro Bowl wide receiver, it would seem that Houshmandzadeh has next.

But Houshmandzadeh and Johnson appear to have made their decision in regard to next week and this offseason. Itís up to the Bengals to make theirs.

Re: TJ to join Chad in the "no show" category

Awesome "team" we've got here.

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Calipari is not, nor has he ever been accused or "caught", cheating. He himself turned in one of his players (Camby) for dealing with an agent to get one Final Four overturned. The other is all on the NCAA and Rose. (IF Rose cheated.)

"Cheering for Kentucky is like watching Star Wars and hoping Darth Vader chokes an ewok"

Re: TJ to join Chad in the "no show" category

"Thrilled" with the Bengals?? Really??

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Calipari is not, nor has he ever been accused or "caught", cheating. He himself turned in one of his players (Camby) for dealing with an agent to get one Final Four overturned. The other is all on the NCAA and Rose. (IF Rose cheated.)

"Cheering for Kentucky is like watching Star Wars and hoping Darth Vader chokes an ewok"

Re: TJ to join Chad in the "no show" category

We have become the fanbase of low expectations.

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Calipari is not, nor has he ever been accused or "caught", cheating. He himself turned in one of his players (Camby) for dealing with an agent to get one Final Four overturned. The other is all on the NCAA and Rose. (IF Rose cheated.)

"Cheering for Kentucky is like watching Star Wars and hoping Darth Vader chokes an ewok"

Re: TJ to join Chad in the "no show" category

Ssssuper!

The Reds are predicted to be around a .500 club, yet I'm much more optimistic about them than I am with the Bengals.

The Bengals are a mess. A big one. They have so many holes, question marks, bad attitudes, the worst owner, a terrible coach, etc. Where do I stop? Besides Carson, is there anything to look forward to?

The next month or so could make or break the next few years in my opinion. They have to draft the right players. No RB's, WR's, etc. They have plenty, yet I see them drafting one or both of those positions in the first 3 rounds. If they do, expect this team to go back to their years of ineptitude.

"....the two players I liked watching the most were Barry Larkin and Eric Davis. I was suitably entertained by their effortless skill that I didn't need them crashing into walls like a squirrel on a coke binge." - dsmith421

Re: TJ to join Chad in the "no show" category

You've got to love non-guaranteed contracts -- everybody feels scared and looks out only for themselves...

Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.

Re: TJ to join Chad in the "no show" category

Voluntary works are garbage anyways, with the exception to rookies and other practice squad filler. I mean, Strahan missed out on everything, even most of preseason, and he only dominated like he usually does. CJ and TJ are both veterans who are Pro Bowl caliber players; they have the ability to turn the switch on when games actually matter.

That hit was plenty fair. Atleast by a quarter of an inch.
-Steve Stone

Re: TJ to join Chad in the "no show" category

Originally Posted by BUTLER REDSFAN

I'm beginning to feel sorry for Carson Palmer--Yeah, he's rich but a career doomed for nothingness.

I don't feel sorry for him. The Bengals gave him a chance to compete, and he did his best. He was given two of the top recievers, and an above average running back. Even with that, the offense didn't score the points it was capable of. He underperformed this year, and that's one of the many reasons the Bengals aren't in the Super Bowl.

If you can't build a winning team with that core a fire-sale isn't the solution. Selling the franchise, moving them to Nashville and converting GABP into a used car lot is.

Re: TJ to join Chad in the "no show" category

Originally Posted by GoReds33

I don't feel sorry for him. The Bengals gave him a chance to compete, and he did his best. He was given two of the top recievers, and an above average running back. Even with that, the offense didn't score the points it was capable of. He underperformed this year, and that's one of the many reasons the Bengals aren't in the Super Bowl.

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